Chamber Board Sign-On to Transportation Resolution
Twelve New Members Approved by Chamber Board
“Wake Up With Wellness Program is Wednesday in Hollidaysburg
Justice Session is Next for LBC Adult Class
Informational Meeting Scheduled for Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise
Local Attorney to Help Non-Profits Avoid Legal Pitfalls
Chamber Partnering With Penn State Altoona on Showcase
WE-LEaD Spring Workshop to Feature Humorist
Filled Out Your Non-Profit Impact Survey Yet?
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card DiscountsChamber Board Sign-On to Transportation ResolutionThe Blair County Chamber of Commerce became the 263rd chamber in the United States to sign-on to a resolution endorsing a long-term federal transportation authorization bill in 2015. The resolution, initiated by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, addresses all forms of transportation. It was unanimously approved by the Chamber’s Board of Directors at last Thursday’s meeting. In its approval, the Board also included the opportunity for the Chamber Transportation Committee to consider a separate resolution that would speak to possible funding sources for the authorization bill. For more information on the resolution or to join the Transportation Committee, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 or email him at jhurd@blairchamber.com.

Twelve New Members Approved by Chamber BoardMembership in the Blair County Chamber continued to climb during March as the Board of Directors approved twelve new members to the organization, bringing the current total to 1,030. That number represents the most members that The Chamber has ever had. New members approved by the Board are: Beauchamp Plumbing & Heating of Altoona, Giant Eagle of Altoona, Grassmyer Interior & Exterior Construction of Tyrone, Mountain View Eye Associates of Altoona, Liberty Tax Services of Altoona, PennStress of Hollidaysburg, Spahn Accounting and Tax Service of Altoona, Sylvan Veterinary Hospital of Hollidaysburg, SYNERGE of Duncansville, Richard H. Searer Funeral Home of Tyrone, Stony Point Events of Altoona, and Weyand Sign Company of Altoona.

“Wake Up With Wellness Program is Wednesday in Hollidaysburg The next Blair County Chamber of Commerce “Wake Up with Wellness” program is set for Wednesday, April 22nd from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m., at American Legion Social Hall located at Legion Park in Hollidaysburg.
Topics for this event will include an update on the Workplace Wellness Website, a presentation by Richard Bishop and Steve Gildea on the Northern Blair County Corporate Challenge, and committee updates.
There is no cost to attend. Registration is required. To register, call the Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.Light refreshments will be available.

Justice Session is Next for LBC Adult ClassThe Leadership Blair County Adult Class will take a broad look at the county’s justice system on Friday. The class will debrief from police ride-alongs, will learn about drug prosecutions, domestic violence, Drug Court and DUI’s as well as having a report on homicide victims. This session is the 7th of the LBC program which will conclude with graduation in June. For more information on Leadership Blair County, contact Judy Juda at 943-8151 or visit the Chamber Website.

Informational Meeting Scheduled for Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise The Blair County Chamber is heading to Europe in late Fall for its first-ever river cruise. The cruise is being done in cooperation with Heritage Travel. The special wine-themed “5-River European Cruise” will depart from the Chamber Office in the Devorris Center for Business Development on November 3rd, will fly from Dulles International Airport for an overnight flight to Prague and will return on November 13th from Paris. The trip will include one-night sightseeing stays at 5-star hotels in both Prague and Paris with the river cruise in-between. The Chamber trip will feature excursions on the Vistava, Main, Rhine, Moselle and Seine rivers via Avalon Waterways “Visionary,” considered the finest river vessel in Europe. The Visionary accommodates just 128 guests. An informational meeting on the cruise will be held on April 28th at 6:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Brochures on the 5-River European Cruise are available at the Chamber Office and at Heritage Travel. Call (814) 946-1600 for more information.

Local Attorney to Help Non-Profits Avoid Legal PitfallsThere is no shortage of peril in the world of non-profits, particularly as it pertains to regulatory compliance. Often, the consequences of not staying within the guidelines can have long-range effects that will ultimately bring an organization to its knees. To help identify the most common pitfalls, Attorney Shawn Sullivan of the law firm Haberstroh, Sullivan, Keating & George, LLP will be the keynote speaker at the next Best Practices Forum, sponsored by the Blair County Chamber’s Committee of Non-Profit Businesses. The Forum will be held on May 1st from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Attorney Sullivan will direct most of his attention to forms that non-profits are required to submit, corporate record-keeping and the parameters for accepting donations. The Best Practices Forums are open to any Chamber-member non-profit. There is no cost to attend although space is limited. To secure a seat, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 or email him at jhurd@blairchamber.com.

Chamber Partnering With Penn State Altoona on ShowcaseThe Blair County Chamber will once again be partnering with Penn State Altoona and Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation on the Business & Engineering Student Showcase, set for May 1st from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Devorris Downtown Center in Altoona. The event allows people to see, firsthand, how Penn State Altoona students are using knowledge from the classroom to enhance the operations, products and services of many Blair County businesses and organizations. Students will make presentations in the areas of business, electro-mechanical engineering technology, rail transportation engineering and security and risk analysis. There is no cost to attend the Showcase and a luncheon is included. But interested persons must register in advance by calling 814-940-3400 or emailing to JAP24@psu.edu.

WE-LEaD Spring Workshop to Feature HumoristThe WE-LEaD Annual Spring Workshop will be held May 6th at the Penn State Altoona Devorris Downtown Center. The title of the keynote presentation is “Do it well. Make it fun -- Deflecting Life’s Curve Balls Through Humor.” The half-day workshop will provide attendees with immediate tools and skill-building exercises to change attitudes and focus on improvement. The presenter is Ron Culberson, speaker, humorist, and author. The sponsor of the workshop is UMPC Altoona Regional Health Services. Registration, exhibitor booths and light breakfast are from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. The program is from 8:30 to 12:15 p.m. Full buffet lunch and exhibitor booths begin at 12:30. The cost is $70.00 per person. Register online or by calling The Chamber at 943-8151.

Filled Out Your Non-Profit Impact Survey Yet? What is the impact that non-profit businesses have on the Blair County economy? To determine the answer to that question, The Chamber’s Committee on Non-Profit Businesses has issued a survey to non-profits from throughout the county. The survey was put together by the committee’s marketing subcommittee. Non-profits that complete the survey will have an opportunity to win $500. For more information, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 or email him at jhurd@blairchamber.com. Congratulations . . .. . . to Leslie Estep of the BASICS Steering Committee and Sue Griep of the Leadership Blair County Adult Committee who were among the WISE Women of Blair County honorees at its April 15th Tribute Dinner.

Blue Card DiscountsTo see a compplete listing of the Blue Card discounts available, please click here. To have an ffer listed, contact The Chamber at 943-8151. There is no fee to offer and have a discount listed.

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